KY House passes medical cannabis bill (Newsletter: March 18, 2022)

KS medical marijuana hearings start; Report: Legalization doesn’t increase youth use; GA medical cannabis bills pass; Cannabis bonds proposal floated

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Before you dig into today’s cannabis news,I wanted you to know you can keep this resource free and published daily by subscribing to Marijuana Moment on Patreon. We’re a small independent publication diving deep into the cannabis world and rely on readers like you to keep going.Join us at https://www.patreon.com/marijuanamoment/ TOP THINGS TO KNOWNew York’s Senate and Assembly included language in budget legislation that would decouple state tax policy from the federal 280E provision, thereby allowing marijuana companies to deduct business expenses in their state filings.The Kansas Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee held the first of three planned hearings this week on a medical cannabis bill that was recently filed by the panel’s chairman.The Georgia House of Representatives and Senate both passed differing medical cannabis bills aimed at jumpstarting the state’s stalled program.A new analysis from the alcohol and tobacco industry-backed Coalition for Cannabis Policy, Education, and Regulation found that state marijuana legalization laws have not led to increases in youth consumption of cannabis.Creating a new Cannabis Based Municipal Bonds program in New York could provide social equity entrepreneurs with the startup capital they need to succeed, Ari Hoffnung of Bridge West Consulting argues in a Marijuana Moment op-ed./ FEDERALThe U.S. Sentencing Commission published a 2021 annual report and sourcebook finding that drug trafficking was the most common federal crime type sentenced, accounting for 31 percent of the caseload.Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) said the Department of Veterans Affairs “needs to take its cues from the growing number of veterans who find critical relief through medicinal cannabis.”Pennsylvania Democratic congressional candidates Summer Lee and Jerry Dickinson said they support decriminalizing marijuana.The House bill to deschedule marijuana and fund programs to repair drug war harms got one new cosponsor for a total of 110./ STATESColorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) tweeted that he is “thrilled to see the launch of the Cannabis Business Pilot Grant.”Texas Democratic attorney general candidates Rochelle Garza and Joe Jaworski both support legalizing marijuana.The Ohio House Behavioral Health and Recovery Supports Committee approved a bill to create a state Office of Drug Policy.An Illinois senator said he is hopeful the chamber will approve a House-passed bill to provide workplace protections for marijuana consumers by the end of the session.A Missouri representative called on the ACLU of Missouri to rescind its endorsement of a proposed marijuana legalization ballot initiative.An Oklahoma representative filed a bill to use blockchain technology to help regulate medical cannabis. Separately, medical marijuana operations are being robbed by criminals posing as regulators.A Pennsylvania representative spoke about her bill to require the state to produce psilocybin for use in clinical studies.The Montana Supreme Court issued temporary rulesfor expunging or revising marijuana convictions.A Florida administrative law judge issued an order saying that a complaint regulators filed against a doctor who recommended medical cannabis for undercover investigators should be dismissed.Rhode Island regulators proposed rules on cannabis extraction.California regulators are accepting public comments on a draft request for applications for a grants program to encourage sustainably grown cannabis.Some New York state agencies are sitting on millions of dollars of unspent medical cannabis tax revenue.New Jersey regulators received more than 170 marijuana dispensary license applications on the first day of accepting them.Vermont regulators began accepting applications for marijuana business license prequalification.Minnesota’s Task Force on Medical Cannabis Therapeutic Research will meet on Friday.Nevada regulators will consider marijuana business issues on Tuesday.—Marijuana Moment is already tracking more than 1,000 cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments.Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access.—

/ LOCALThe Seattle, Washington City Council is reportedly considering a new tax on cannabis sales.Portland, Oregon officials published an updated audit of cannabis tax revenue processes./ INTERNATIONALThe UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs voted to control three chemical precursors used to manufacture fentanyl and its analogues.Danish lawmakers are proposing a five-year marijuana legalization pilot program.London, UK police are being criticized for strip-searching a schoolgirl they wrongly suspected of possessing marijuana./ SCIENCE & HEALTHA study found that “cannabidiol effectively promoted the apoptosis of osteosarcoma cells in vitro and in vivo and suppressed tumor growth in a mouse xenograft model.”A review of MDMA and psilocybin in treating mental, behavioral or developmental disorders found that both “may show promise in highly selected populations when administered in closely supervised settings and with intensive support.”/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSISThe ACLU of Missouri endorsed a proposed marijuana legalization ballot initiative. Show Me Canna Freedom and other organizations that prefer a competing legalization proposal criticized the move.The American Academy of Pediatrics published a column expressing concerns about “deceptive” cannabis ads’ impact on youth.An Illinois Valley Soil and Water Conservation District report concluded that 82 percent of all marijuana grows in that region of Oregon with more than 12 plants were unregistered illegal operations./ BUSINESSSchwazze is acquiring Urban Health & Wellness, Inc.TerrAscend Corp. reported net revenue of $49.2 million and a net loss of $5.9 million.CannTrust Holdings Inc. plans to change its name after exiting creditor protection.

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